St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-10
Special YzecIInp.

| Board met at p. M, pursuant to call.
Present: Messrs. Hoyt, Peters, Quinby,
Schlick and MI. President.
Absent: Mr.. Becker fexcused.)
In the matter of the suspension by the
Building Inspector and Health Officer of the
license of James j. Dunnigan. plumber, the
following report was adopted, to-wit:
In the matter of the petitions of Gustave
| Henemann and Robert Seeger for the re-
vocation of the license of James j. Dumb
| gan. licensed plumber of said city, the
Board of Public Works read and considered
the complaints of the petitioners, the order
| Of the Health Officer. DR.. Talbot Jones,
the Inspector of Buildings. Gates A. John
son, ESQ.,. suspendng the plumbing license
of said James j. Dunnigan, and having
heard the petitioners and the respondent in
person and by their respective counsel, are
of the opinion that they have jurisdiction
not only of the subject matter of the COM
| plants but alSo.of the respondent, for the
purpose of hearing the evidence and de-
termining this question: Has the respond
ent been guilty, as charged in these COM
plants, of a violation of the provisions of
the ordinance known as AN ordinance to
regulate the construction and plumbing of
buildings within the City of st. Paul and
to provide for the appointment of Build
ing Inspector" approved June 26, 1883, as
amended by Ordinance No. 643, approved
April Z, 1886?
In accordance with this construction of
the proper limit Of the Jurisdiction of the
Board in the matter of these complaints
against the respondent they advised counsel
that the evidence to be heard would be con-
fined to such testimony as should bear di-
rectly upon the question of whether or not
the respondent has been guilty of violation
of the provisions of said ordinance. and the
conditions of this bond. and directed the
respondents counsel to answer the charges
in said complaints, which was done.
The answer substantially admits the
charges made by the complainantS, and
from its admissions, made under oath. the
Board would be justified i'll finding the re-
spondent guilty of a violation of the ordn-
ance, and inlcting upon him such punish
ment as in the Judgment of the Board his
confessed guilt should receive.
The Board, however, were of the opinion
that for the purpose of better informing
themselves upon the subject matter of
these complaints. of which they can have
no knowledge. for reasons hereinafter
stated. either of the capabi!ty. efficiency,
or good faith or otherwise, of the persons
to whom licenses may have been granted,
of the Board is specially directed thereto,
by the action of the Building Inspector and
Health Officer in SrSpending such license,
they ought to hear testimony upon the
question referred to and so informed the
parties and their counsel.
We were, and are. of the opinion, thai
by full, fair and impartial hearing of the
parties and their witnesses, and the infor.
nation thereby obtained, the public Interest
and welfare would be best subseTved, anG
the evils complained of would be more
clearly ascertained and defined, and con
sequently the more easily remedied.
The complainants introduced several wit
nesses to sustain the allegations made il
the complaints, and they also were sWor1
and testified in their own behalf. .
The respondent did not testify in his owl
behalf, nor did his counsel see fit to offe
. any testimony, or to justify the conduct o
/ the respondent in his alleged and confessed
violation of the plumbing ordinance. say,
and except as stated in his answer, tina
{ the matters complained of. were done, O
were not DONE through advertance or over
) sight.
The evidence heard by the Board in thes
cases, and the statements of the Buildin!
Inspector, verified by the records of his of
| fee, clearly prove the following facts, viz.
: First-That the respondent has BEEF
guilty of an habitual and persistent, not t
? say willful, violation of the plumbing or
7 dinance.
| Second-That these violations of tn
ordinance were net the result Of inadvert
/ ance or oversight; that they are not excuSa
bic and should not BIZ yerlooked, but shoul
f be punished.
7 Third-That N lly, If not quite all. o
t the other twenty-three licensed plumbers o